Microsoft poaches Oracle UK marketing supremo

Microsoft has appointed Oracle vice-president and director of marketing Nick Barley as its UK marketing director. He replaces Oliver Roll, who was recently promoted to managing director of marketing across the Asia-Pacific region, based in Hong Kong (MW May 23).

Roll was responsible for the UK launch of Windows XP last October. Formerly director of enterprise marketing, he was promoted last June to what was a newly created role.

As UK marketing director, Barley will report to Neil Holloway, Microsoft managing director for the UK and vice-president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Barley will also sit on the executive management team at Microsoft, which is responsible for the management and growth of the business in the UK.

He moves to Microsoft after seven years at Oracle UK and has more than 21 years’ experience in the technology sector.

Microsoft launched a &£5m advertising campaign – created by McCann-Erickson – in March this year to promote its business software.

The company was recently ordered to drop its “Champagne” Xbox ad, after the Independent Television Commission upheld 136 complaints from viewers who found the commercial – which showed a speeded-up journey from birth to death – offensive (MW June 6).